Cricket: Sri Lanka pile on the runs

Kyle Mills bowls to Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardena. Picture / Fotopress

Centuries from captain Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene led Sri Lanka to a safe 351 for three at stumps on day three of the first cricket test against New Zealand today.

In reply to New Zealand's first innings of 561, it left the tourists just 11 short of avoiding the follow-on with a match destined for a draw.

Jayawardene was 118 not out at the close, his 13th test century, with Thilan Samaraweera on 34 when bad light forced an early end.

Atapattu became just the fourth player to score centuries against all nine other test-playing nations with his 16th test century.

His innings of 127 ended when he was caught at slip off Nathan Astle's bowling, ending a third wicket stand of 184 with Jayawardene.

Chris Martin had the best bowling figures of two for 106 off 25 overs.

* Scoreboard at stumps on the third day of the first cricket test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at McLean Park today.

New Zealand

First innings 561

Sri Lanka

First innings (48-0 overnight)

M Atapattu c Fleming b Astle 127
S Jayasuriya lbw b Martin 48
K Sangakkara b Martin 5
M Jayawardene not out 118
T Samaraweera not out 34
Extras (4lb, 11nb, 4w) 19
Total (for 3 wkts, 94 overs) 351
Fall: 95 (Jayasuriya), 101 (Sangakkara), 285 (Atapattu).

Bowling: C Martin 25-4-106-2 (3nb, 4w), J Franklin 20-3-91-0 (5nb), P Wiseman 21-4-76-0, K Mills 17-3-47-0 (3nb), N Astle 11-3-27-1.

- NZPA